London Bridge Seaplane Classic

Reports from readers around the world!

If you like scale RC models and relaxing at the beach, you should attend the annual London Bridge Seaplane Classic hosted by the Desert Hawks R/C Club. This three-day fun-fly is held at the Nautical Inn in Lake Havasu City, AZ, in a protected cove with a beautiful sand beach. In its 14th year, the Classic was attended by 95 pilots and 140 planes, and several thousand spectators came to admire the models on the beach and in the air. There was very little wind-calm conditions always make water flying easier-and the beach is the perfect spot to fly from. Pilots from Arizona, California, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado and Texas recorded more than 1,000 flights.

After the Saturday night banquet, the pilots put on a spectacular night-flying show. One modeler with a Balsa USA* Northstar lit up the sky with all kinds of steady and flashing lights; it's just too bad that this event can't be recorded on film.

Many accomplished fliers attended, and it was terrific to watch them wring out their models. I'm always amazed to see pilots fly their planes inverted just inches off the water. As usual, there were Cubs of all sizes and paint schemes and many low-wing aircraft, such as the Space Walker. Also in the air were Extra 300s, Lazy Bees and assorted RC converted freeflight models. Of course, no one brought a jet to the meet, but I bet we'll see one soon; the Convair Sea Dart would be a great scale jet model for it.

During the lunch break, the Kalt Helicopters division of Airtronics* put on a 1-hour demonstration led by Rick Mattie and Brian Tucker. The flying really was spectacular; I can't believe how well these helicopters fly inverted.

Congratulations for a job well done goes to event chairman Gene Estes and the rest of his team: "beach master" George Fields, frequency-control chair Bill Clarey III, vendor chair Phil Hatch and sitepreparation chair Ray Young. Most of the 130 members of the Desert Hawks also helped to make the 14th London Bridge Seaplane Classic a success. The event sponsors, Airtronics, K&B Model Products*, Zurich Intl.*, Lanier RC* and Dremel*, are most appreciated.

This year, the London Bridge Seaplane Classic will be held on November 10, 11 and 12. For more information, check out the Desert Hawks R/C Club website at www.ctaz.com /kelcomp /hawks.htm.

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